Prologue:

Her side:

I knew I had some kind of life before 157 years ago, but only God and the Devil know that. Well, also a select few set up by some stranger who saved my life. I had apparently been struck pretty hard by a burning wooden support beam. He was the first one to give me clues, but also always said in good time. He cared for me for quite some time, and I felt so bad for him. He always made sure I ate well so I would stay strong. We hardly spoke those first few weeks. Everything was done with gestures of either the hands or eyes. When I got better and wasn’t in pain anymore was a different story.

After two months of caring for me, we started talking and doing things together. He tried like a demon in a snowstorm to teach me how to cook. Every time I failed, he would just laugh and tell me everything was alright. I soon found out that he had me in Warsaw, Poland, at the time. He said that was because it was the closest city with a proper doctor to where he rescued me from. He soon had me calling him Tempest which I thought odd but never bothered asking. He was a tall man, not slender though not over muscled. He was perfectly portioned for his build. His red/gray eyes though always seemed to look sad since the day I woke up and told him that I couldn’t remember anything. I always asked him if he lost someone in the attack, he pulled me from. He would just give a faint smile and would just say, “In a way yes, I lost the love of my life. In a way no because my best, most trusted friend is right here with me.” After a while, I stopped asking him to tell me more because it looked painful for him.

Our lives were happy for a long time. He always me kept happy, healthy, loved, and protected. We would go out to the countryside once a week to the burned mansion that had belonged to a Baron. Tempest told me once for my first training session that this is where he saved me. He told me that he risked his own life to run in and find me. He told me about my scars on my back. Said he found me in the drawing room with a burning support beam on me. He found the strength to get the support beams off of me and get me out the window before the rest collapsed. I memorized the entire story that one time being told because I felt it was the truth and because it looked like it hurt Tempest to talk about it. We started practice right after that story and trained twice a week every week until the signs of war came.

The year was 1939 near September. There were rumors of a Nazi invasion of Poland. That’s when Tempest told me that he had enlisted. I still remember the way he held and kissed me. He look solidly into my blue eyes and made one promise to me. He said, “So long as I live, I will find you. No matter where you go, I swear I will find you, Raven. We’re one in many ways and our blood will always call to each other. We are blood bound. Now go with Boris and his men. They’ll get you to Ivan and the others who will take you to London. Be brave, my little Raven.” He then grabbed my chin and kissed me passionately, before walking out that door. Boris and the men hurried me out and we were quickly away soon after. That was what I thought would be the last time I would see Tempest. That’s what I thought.

His side:

I knew I wanted her the first time I saw Raven Bobowski. She was the classic damsel in distress, and lucky for her I was in the area. Ah, sweet memories of how she tried to fight back and how those bastards died. She was kicking and screaming at the men trying to grab her and the horse. She rode with grace and knew just how to get the horse to kick and rear when she wanted it to. She has the true warrior’s spirit, but I couldn’t bear watching her fight much longer. They were tearing at her clothes, and she was quickly becoming distracting. I stepped towards the fray with a nonchalant grin and cleared my throat. I looked at them and said, “Excuse me, gentlemen. I believe the lady has made it greatly known that she wishes to be left alone. Now if you would just step away from her and leave now, then I won’t have to kill all of you. But if you stay, then I’ll slaughter every single last one of you. And that’s my final offer.” I gave them my best wicked grin as about five of the fifteen ran.

I just laughed maniacally as the leftovers grabbed their pathetic weapons out. I stopped my laughing which made those cowards stop dead in the tracks. Then I gave my one last warning right before I would strike. “Do you men seriously not value your own lives? Ten of you are nothing against me, Vladimir Tepes.” I started laughing just because of the looks that I got when I said my name. I only stopped when I saw her look. She had a smile that melted my cold heart, and all from just my name. I shook my head and told myself that she would be a distraction. I notice some more men turn and run leaving only six. I realized exactly how unintelligent these men were as I attacked with a maniacal grin. I was glad that they came at me for her sake. No need to get blood on such pretty ivory skin as hers was my fore thought while slicing men down left and right.

I laughed like a madman when I realized my train of thought as the last man drops dead. I just took a handkerchief and cleaned up some as I walked over towards the vision before my eyes. Her face seemed to glow as I helped her down from her steed. Then when she turned in my arms to face me with her angelic smile, I knew I was done for. She had just melted away any ice that was left on my frozen heart as if it was nothing. Then she hugged me for saving her and took my breath away. I started smiling like a fool from that simple gesture. I wrapped my arms protectively around her even knowing that I was still covered in bloody gore, and she didn’t care. I pulled her back in that moment and studied her with an appraising smile. I fought hard at that moment not to laugh at her standing there smiling while in an expensive, torn dress that was now covered in blood. I smiled broadly at her when I spoke, “Well, that is one of the warmest ‘thank yous’ I have ever gotten, m’lady. But I’m not sure what your family will think of your attire when I return you.” I laughed at my own words and then stopped when I notice that she had laughed as well. My mind told me that another nail had been placed in my coffin with this woman.

“Well, um.... Perhaps an introduction is needed, m’lady?” I said to her with a hint of nervousness in my voice. I took a flourished bow as I told her my name, “I am Vladimir Tepes III of Transylvania, m’lady, at your service.” I took her hand in mine softly and kissed it lightly. “And you might be?” I still smile when I remember the melody of her giggle. Then when she spoke made my want for her even stronger. Her voice was like music as she spoke, “My name is Lady Raven Bobowski, youngest daughter of Baron Bobowski, and granddaughter of Cain.” Even in torn, ripped, blood-stained frock of a dress, she still exuded noble beauty that made my heart beat. I had to regain my wit quickly with this woman around me. I looked to her with a smile and said, “Well, Lady Raven, may I have the honor of taking you home.” Then she said yes which made my heart leap for joy. I got her back up on her horse and then leaped up behind her on the stallion, went and grabbed my stallion, and then went to her home. It was what was waiting for her at home I didn’t expect.... A rival for her affection. A very dangerous rival bearing the name of Count Edgardo Jesus de Salvador.

The Baron’s estate was one of the largest I had seen in this country. The royal Polish family had the largest, and yet neither of these places compared to the palaces that I had destroyed in days of yore. Though I had to admit that this place looked nicer than most palaces that I had been to. I made sure to take my time taking Lady Raven home so I could enjoy every second of having her ride in front of me with my arms wrapped around her. This woman’s beauty had knocked me off my feet. Her hug made me feel like I was being set on pleasurable fire. The fact that she is brave and had no shame in hugging such a bloody mess like myself was just icing on the cake. She had it all, and that made me want to spend the rest of my eternity with her in my arms. I tried scolding myself, telling me that there was no such thing as love at first sight, but I was wrong. I knew I loved her as soon as I saw how she could handle her horse and still be able to agilely fight. It didn’t take me long to visualize what it would be like to teach this warrior woman how to fight better and made me grin from ear to ear. I knew though that meant me trying to figure out how to stay in this beautiful woman’s life which meant impressing her father. I grinned even wider knowing that if this lovely night angel could be impressed by my name and skill then I might just have a chance with her father, the Baron.

Now that I think back, I not only impressed her father, but her entire family. Now there was the beginning of a downfall that would leave her and I chasing each for nearly two centuries. Ah, it’s funny how the memory works. In your darkest hours, you can recall every detail that got you where you are at. Whereas, when everything is happy and no bad seems to lurk then you don’t remember as much detail. I’ve been going over my memories for quite some time as I sit here in a cage as a prisoner. My memory of my little Raven being my only comfort as these people of the British MI-6 Night Stalker division poke and prod at me. They take my blood and purify my DNA for clones by taking out the one thing to stabilize it... my little Raven’s DNA. Blood bound since before we were forced to part as husband and wife in vampire tradition. I will escape my bonds and my prison. I will find my wife, my Raven. I will punish those responsible for all that has happened. Until then I have my memories....